Venetian blind structure



Sept. 19; 1950v A. w. DONOP VENETIAN BLIND STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 1. 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 flugus Z1)? D0 120p.

. I \N 1 4% sw fimn, limit zuuw Sept. 19, 1950 A.-w. DONOP VENETIAN BLIND STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 1. 1945' A. W. DONOF' VENETIAN BLIND STRUCTURE Sept. 19, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 1, 1945 M 3 M Q\\ NEW Patented Sept. 19, 1950 it VENETIANTIBLIND" STRUGTURE LAugust'W. Dum ;tonna e-111.; assignor to A'jaxmonsolidated'flompany,"Uhicago, Ill., a'corporationbf-Illinois mApplicationDecember 1, 1945,:Scr-ial No."632,185

JIhis invention relatestoL Venetian-blind strucetures, and .has-to do Withla: structure. comprising ;.a Venetian mblind ands associated-mounting and supporting meansflpartic'ularly suitable for, use in railway cars-andanalogous vehicles.

In tthetuse of. Venetian blinds inrailway cars and like vehicles titsis. of tirnportancefthat.theinstallar tion, including the-.,.b1ind..and its associated mounting .andlsupporting-Mmeans present a neat andnattra-citivesappearance thatljall unnecessary "theblind, positioned at"themid-portion of the zprojectionse suchwas mightwcausel. injury to. the

passengers or their apparel be avoided, andhthat the;1blind .iunit be capablenof being removed and replaced .with..,expeditition,and'iaGiIity as condir. ablesonas. to epermit ofteasylaccess-to'ithewindow ofiithe Window -Tframe .or 'at the lower portion thereof, to facilitate .washing of the window, and thereafter returntoiits mounted p'dsition'; by; un-

"' skilled labonand withoutrisk of"injury'eithef'to certain parts .being shown in,plan and certain other parts being broken away and showninsec- .ition;

Figure 8 is affrontview; on a reduced scale, of "'the Venetian blind'structure of Figure 1 with the "blind in fully lowered or 'closed position; v

Figure 9"is a' view similar to Figure 8 Wlth the blindinpartly 'open or raised position;

Figure'IO'is a view similar to Figure 9 but with frame preliminary to-removingit therefrom;

"tratingthe mann'erin which the blindmay be removed as a unit'fromits' associated frame and .tions mayreq11ire. =AYfurtherimportantconsid- 1guide means; and

eration islthat the blindIitslelfibereadily position- "Figure" 12' is afragme'ntary vertical-sectional "View; onian'enlarged'scale;of a railway car win- --dowwith a' 'venetianblind structure embodying my invention applied thereto.

-f'-']En"Figures 1= and 8 to "11", inclusive, I have shown "a simple rectangular frame in which theblind "unit is -in'ounted,"and in Figures 3- to 5, inclusive, thetirame has been omitted, for clearness iif iI- lustration. "Fram'e l5, above referred to, com- "the blind orxxto its associated 'mou'ntingnneans, prises side-r'ails' lfiya-top rail 11 and a bottom rail and with assurance .that" the blind will'bemounte'd' properlyvvhen' returned to itsn'ormar position. My invention-i is" idirected to* :a Venetianblind i'structure; iricluding the :blind unit and theassowhich "is of simple-construction andpperation and'm'eets' allbf theaboverequirements' for' the satisfactory use-of= a veneti'an blind in 'a' railway oar or "'an'alogous vehi'cle. Further -obj ects and advantages ofmy-invention'wilt appear from the H detair description.

In the drawings Figure 1" -isa front view of a 'venetian blind structure -embodying"my invention, comprising the blind unitand the mounting and supporting ---means"ther'efor including a suitableframe, certain partsbeing '-broken away and pertain oth'er pa-rtsbeing brokenawayandz'shownin section;

Figure" 2- =-is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale 'substantially on dined- 2? of Figure 1;

Figure B 1 a section'al View; on arr enlarged scale; takensubstantially on iine 3- 3 6f Figure'il;

scalejiaken substantially, on line 5 5 bf Figure .1

"Figure'fi is' a sectional "View, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially online 6 6 of Figure 1; IFigure'? .is a sectionaliview on anienl'arged .ciatedimounting and supporting means therefor, W3

or sill l8, all-secured together in any suitable known" manner. "Channel "members 19, preferany formed-of aluminum'and open at theirinner or opposed sidesg'are suitably mounted on'the ini-n'er ia'cesof rails l 6, each of the members '19 being provided with a liner- 200f suitable "elastic materiaI, preferably rubberfeither natural or synthetwsic. A leaf-springi H' is secured at its lower end ':portion;conventiently by riveting-, to the" bight s portion-i" bf reach'of the channel members |9,a

1 short distance from the upper end thereof; and

-irextendsiupwardland :inward of such member, as "shownfiiniFigure 1', this spring'being of adequate strength vand'i'ri'gidity to support a substantial tw'eightvandxbeing bowed inward so as to be urged obyfitsinherentresiliency toward the inner or open rcsidetiofachannellmemberifl. "The frame '15 and iithe associated channels 'I 9 and rspringiZ I provide c 'means :for "supporting and guidinga Venetian irb'lind unit mounted-in -frame' |5, as wilt-be e'xwplained presently.

The blind-unit comprises a" head bar22 of chann'el *cross section, as appears more clearly "-in"Figures*3to 5, inclusive, this bar having a downward extension 23 ofsubstantially flattened v'e'shapetconn'ected' by lateral flanges 24 to the side arms of'bar22; which conveniently is formed of sheet metal preferablyaluminum. Blocks 25 aredisposed in the end portions of bar.22, seat- .sca1e,"taken substantially on line 1- 1 of Figure. 1, a 'ing 'on"'flanges"'24; to which" they are adjustably secured by bolts 26 passing through flanges 24 and through elongated slots 27 in the respective blocks 25, each of the bolts receiving a nut 28 on its upper end bearing on a washer seating on block '25, whereby block 25 is secured to bar 22 for relative endwise adjustment. Each of the blocks 25 is provided with an extension 29 of reduced width, which projects into the adjacent channel member 19 and is beveled upward and inward at its outer end, at 39. Extension 29 is notched out at its under side, at 3 |,for reception of the upper end of spring 2|, notch 3| providing an inner shoulder restraining inward movement of spring 2| and an upper shoulder normally seating on the upper end of this spring. It will be clear that bar 22 normally is supported by springs 2| in its upper position shown in Figure 1, and that the springs 2| are accessible through the open inner sides of channels l9 so that, by inserting the fingers into channels I9 and deflecting the springs 2| outward sufiiciently to clear extensions 29 of blocks 25, bar 22 may be released for downward movement in frame l5, guided by channels l9 and extensions '29. Also, bar 22 may readily be moved upward in channels I9, from a lower position and, as it approaches its normal raised position, will deflect springs 2| outward, by contact therewith of extensions 29, and when these extensions pass upward above the springs 2| the latter will automatically snap into the notches 3| of extensions 29 so as again to support the bar 22. That provides simple and highly efiicient means for supporting the bar 22 in its normal raised position while permitting it to be released and lowered with expedition and facility and as readily returned to its normal raised position. Since the springs 2| are enclosed and guarded by the channel members I9, there is no risk of injury thereto, nor is there likelihood of injury to either'the springs or the bar and associated parts in the operation of releasing and lowering the bar and returning it to its raised position, so that these operations may safely be performed by unskilled labor, such as is employed for washing car windows.

Two angle brackets 33 and 34 are disposed in head bar 22 a short distance inward from blocks 25, with their lower arms seating on flanges 24 and secured thereto, conveniently by riveting, the outer arms of these brackets extending upward a suitable distance above bar 22. The brackets 33 and 34 rotatably support a spring roller 35 of suitable known type having at one end a cylindrical pin 39 extending through an opening in bracket 33 and, at its other end, a flat pin 31 (Figure 4) fitting into a corresponding upwardly opening slot in an extension 34 of bracket 34. Preferably, a retainer arm 38 is riveted tightly at one end, at 39, to bracket 34 and is normally disposed in overlying relation to pin 31, arm 38 being frictionally held in its normal or retaining position by the tight rivet 39, so as to require substantial force to move it to an inoperative position clear of pin 3?. In that manner, casual displacement of the roller 35 from the brackets 33 and 34 in handling or shipment is avoided. Any other means for retaining pin 31 positioned within the member 34 of bracket 34 may be provided.

The roller 35 may be any suitable type of spring roller and comprises a cylindrical sheet metal body 49 within which is disposed a rod 4| having a torsion coil spring 42 disposed thereabout for driving the roller in desired direction. Roller 35 also is provided with a suitable pawl 43 pivoted to one end thereof adjacent pin 31, this pawl cooperating with a notched disk or ratchet member associated with pin 31, spring 42 having suitable connection to body 49 of roller 35 and to pin 37 for rotating the roller as permitted by disengagement of the pawl 43 from the disk or ratchet member; all as well known in spring rollers. The roller 35 constitutes part of a Venetian blind unit carried by the channel head bar 22, as will be explained.

Ladder tapes 45, each comprising two lengths or runs 45" connected by cross tapes 46, are looped over roller 35 and rest thereon in friction contact therewith. Each run 45 of the respective ladder tapes 45 is provided at its upper end with a loop 41 receiving one arm of a curtain pin 48, of known type, by means of which the upper ends of the runs 45 are detachably secured there together. It will be understood that two or more ladder tapes 45 may be provided, as required. The ladder tapes 45 support, by means of the cross tapes 46 thereof, a plurality of slats 49 of reduced width at their end portions, providing projections or tongues 55 extending into the guideways provided by channel members l9 and. cooperating therewith to limit or restrain transverse movement of the slats, as will be un derstood. The cross tapes 46 are arranged in sets or pairs of upper and lower tapes between which the respective slats 49 are confined, for a purpose which will be explained more fully later.

At their lower ends, the ladder tapes 45 are suitably secured to a bottom bar or toe rail 5|, guided in the ways provided by the channel members I9 and provided with means for securing it in vertical adjustment, as will be explained later. The slats 49 are provided with substantially rectangular openings 52, shown more clearly in Figure 6, disposed between the runs 45 of the respective ladder tapes 45 and in vertical alignment, the openings 52 being also disposed between the cross tapes 46 which are suitably arranged to that end, as shown in Figure 1. Each of the slats 49 is further provided with a slot 53 of slight width relative to opening 52 extending from one corner of this opening to the adjacent edge of slat 49, at a point thereof adjacent one edge and within the width of one run 45 of the corresponding latter tape 45. Lift cords 54, preferably in the form of flat tapes formed of silk or other suitable material and of slight thickness relative to their width, extend downward through the openings 52, slot 53 providing means for introducing the cord 54 into opening 52. The cords or tapes 54 are suitably secured at their lower ends to the toe rail 55 and extend upward therefrom to roller 35 to which they are secured. To that end, body 49 of roller 35 is provided, in the zone of the respective ladder tapes 45, with a lengthwise depression or channel 55 having a restricted portion 55 underlying the corresponding ladder tape 45. Each of the lift cords or tapes 54 is provided at its upper end with a loop 56 which receives a securing pin 51 inserted into the restricted portion 55 of the depression or channel 55, thereby anchoring tape 54 to body 49 of the roller.

Plates 59, conveniently formed of aluminum, are mounted in head bar 22 in underlying relation to roller 35 at the respective ladder tape areas thereof, these plates seating on flanges 24 and being secured thereto, conveniently by riveting. Each of the plates 59 is provided with slots 59 adjacent the sides thereof of adequate width and length to accommodate the runs 45 of the corresponding ladder tape 45. Two tabs 59* struck down from plate 59, support between them a-guide roller 60 having end retaining flanges 6|, extension 23 of head bar 22 having an opening 23 therein accommodating tabs 59 and roller 69. The flanges 24 of head bar 22 are provided with slots corresponding to and in register with slots 59 of plate 59, the runs 4'5 of ladder tape 45 passing downward through the slots in plate 59 and in "flanges 54, as will be clear. Each of the lift cords or tapes 54 passes from spring roller 35 downward over a guide roller 60 and thence, midway between the runs 45 of the corresponding ladder tape 45, downward through openings 52 of slats 49 to the toe rail or bottom bar 5|. The spring 42 drives roller 35 in a direction to wind the lifting cords or tapes 54 thereon, as noted, effective for raising the blind when the roller" isreleased for rotation, as will be understood. The bottom bar or toe rail 5| is provided with means for securing it in desired vertical adjustment in the ways provided by the channel members I9 and, in conjunction with the spring roller and associated parts, provides convenient means for adjusting the blind to any desired extent between fully open and fully closed "positions. The bottom bar or toe rail 5| and the associated, means for guiding it and securing it in adjustment in the guideways provided by the channel members I9 may, within the teaching of my invention, be of any suitable known type. Preferably, however, I use the toe rail and associated guiding and securing means disclosed in the copending application of Frank E. Bretz, Jr.

7 andPeter F. Nardulli, for Venetian Blind Fixcure, filed October 15, 1945, Serial No. 622,298,

now Patent2,428,197.

passing through plate 69 and the lower portion of loop 68. The clamp plate 69 and screws 19 also serve to secure the lower end of the forward run 45 of ladder tape 45 to the top of bar 5|, as will be :clear from Figure 2. The lower end of the rear run 45 of ladder tape 45 is secured to the back of bar 5| by a clamp plate II and associated screws I2. The lift tapes and the runs of the respective ladder tapes are thus secured to the toe rail or bar 5 I, as above stated, with adequate slack at the lower ends of the runs 45 of the respective ladder tapes 45 to permit of tilting slats 49 to desired extent in either direction, in a manner to be described presently.

The front section .63 of bar 5| is provided with a lengthwise slot I9 through its front wall, conveniently at about its. midlength. Slo-t I5 receives forwardly projecting pinch arms II-3 provided at the inner ends of two opposed operating members 11 of substantially Z-shape. The members 1! are suitably supported and guided for sliding movement at the front wall of bar 5| and each is provided at its outer end with an arm 18 disposed within and directed rearward of bar 5 I. The pinch arms I6 are enclosed by a suitable housing I9, formed of a plastic or other suitable material, secured by screws 80 to the front wall of 6 bar 5|, these screws having fiat cylindrical heads 8| extending into lengthwise slots 82 in members I! to assist in supporting and guiding them.

Buttons 83, mounted on studs 84 secured in the forward ends of pinch arms 16, are slidable through openings in the sides of housing I9, each of these buttons having a flange 85 at its inner end serving to retain it within the housing 19. It will be clear that by moving the buttons 83 toward each other, the operating members H are moved toward each other, and upon release of the buttons 83 the members 1! may be moved apart.

A guide block 86 is adjustably secured in each end of bar 5|, by bolt and slot means 81. This block 86 projects outward beyond bar 5| into the adjacent guideway provided by channel member I9 and is of increased width at its outer portion, as shown in Figure 7, the front and rear surfaces of the outer portion of block 86 being rounded as shown in Figure 2 to facilitate vertical movement thereof in the associated guideway. Each of the blocks 83 slidably receives a holding member 88 provided at its outer end with an enlarged cubiform head 89 slidable in a vertical groove 90 in the outer end of block 86. Head 89 is provided with a cylindrical recess receiving a disk 9| of rubber or other suitable friction material secured therein by a countersunk screw 92, the members 9| at the ends of bar 5| cooperating with the bight portions of liners 29 of channel members I9 to lock the bar 59 in vertical adjustment in the channel members.

Each of the holding members 88 is provided with a bore 93 extending axially thereof from its inner end and receiving the outer end portion 94 of an operating rod 94. Portion 94 of rod 94 is ,slabbed off at one side to provide a flat surface 94 against'which bears the inner end of a set screw 95 threaded in member 88. The back wall of housing section 64 is provided with an opening 96 in alignment with screw 95 for insertion of a screw driver or like tool, whereby member 88 may be adjusted lengthwise relative to rod 94, so as to vary the effective length of the two as conditions may require.

Each of the rods 94 passes through arm I8 of one of the operating members I1 and projects a substantial distance inward beyond such arm, being secured thereto in a suitable manner, conveniently by welding at 98. The inner portions 94 of the rods'94 are spaced apart a suitable distance at their ends and receive a compression spring 99 piloted thereon and confined under compression between arms I8. As will be understood, spring 99 urges the holding members 88 outward through blocks 86 and is effective for holding the disks 9| in gripping contact with the liners 20 of the respective channel members I9. By forcing the buttons 83 toward each other, the holding members 88 are retracted, so as to release the bar 5| from the channel members to permit desired adjustment thereof, and upon release of the buttons 83 the bar 5| is again secured in adjustment. 1

In order to facilitate adjustment of bar 5! within the guideways, I provide each of the blocks88 with rollers I99 mounted in groove 99 transversely thereof above and below head 89 of holding member 88. The rollers I99 project outward beyond block 89 to a slightly less extent than the tating adjustment of bar 5!. A suitably formed bracket is secured, at its lower portion, in the upper portion of groove 95 of each block 86 and extends therefrom upward into the guide- Way of the adjacent channel member [9. Guide discs I02 are pivoted on bracket In! by pivot pins I03, adjacent the ends of bracket 66, these discs being of a diameter but slightly less than the interior width of the guideway defined by the associated channel member i9 and its liner 20. The disks I02 restrain the bar Zll against objectionable tilting in either direction about the common axis of the holding members 88. It will be noted that the disks Hi2 are mounted to rotate when brought into contact with liner 20, hereby guarding against objectionable wear of the liner incident to adjustment of bar 5 I. It will be seen that bar 5! may be adjusted vertically with facility, for adjusting the extent of raising or opening of the Venetian blind unit, as well as for tilting the slats 49, that being accomplished by slight turning of the roller 35 in friction contact with the ladder tapes 45, as will be understood.

In Figure 12 I have shown the Venetian blind structure of my invention as applied to a railway car structure of known type, comprising window panes J05 carried by suitable frames [06, with intervening sealing strips lll'l of rubber, one of which frames I06 abuts side wall I08 of the car. The window opening is formed, in so far as shown, by side posts we, a header I Hi, and a sill member (not shown). The window frame corresponds, in general, to the frame !5 of Figures 1 and 8 to 1, inclusive, and need not be described in further detail. The header H0 provides a space or pocket at the top of the window frame closed at its inner side or front by a facial board orstrip I l I, there being a top trim member H2 mounted above the facial board Ill. The channel members I9, with their liners 22, are suitably secured to the side posts I09 of the window frame and receive therebetween the Venetian blind unit, with the channel head bar 22 and the parts carried thereby supported between them substantially within the pocket defined by the header H0 and concealed by the facial board ill. When thus mounted in the car window frame, the Venetian blind unit may be adjusted as desired in the man- 'ner previously described. When it is desired to wash the surface of the window at the inner side of the car, the Venetian blind unit is closed, that is the toe rail or bar 5! thereof is moved into its lowermost position, or substantially so, in which it is secured by its associated securing means, after which springs 2! are displaced outward so as to release the head bar 22, and this bar and the parts carried thereby are then lowered into position adjacent the lower end of the window frame, with the slats l9 stacked on one another. That exposes the window pane for the major portion of the height thereof, which may then readily be Washed for such portion, after which channel bar 22 is returned to its normal raised position and the toe rail or bar 5| is raised into position giving ready access to the portion of the window which has not been washed, or may be raised into its full upper position, whereby the remainder of the window is readily accessible for washing. This operation may be performed safely by unskilled labor without danger of damage to either the blind unit or its associated mounting and supporting members, and incurs no appreciable delay in the washing of the 8 f Window; important considerations in respect to the washing of windows of railway cars.

If it is desirable or necessary to remove the Venetian blind unit for replacement, repair or other reason, the toe rail or bar 5| is moved to about its position shown in Figure 10 and held there by its associated securing means, after which head bar 22 is released and moved into its position shown in Figure 10, with the slats stacked as shown. By grasping the blind unit and tilting it so as to withdraw the various extensions or projections thereof from the guideways, it may be removed as a unit from the window frame, as indicated in Figure 11, and by reversing the operation it may be as quickly and easily replaced.

The slats 69 may be of any desired length, within practical limits. Likewise, any desired number of ladder tapes and of lift tapes may be provided, as conditions require. Tilting of the slats is accomplished by turning of the roller 35, as above explained. If desired, the slats may be turned into substantially contacting overlapping relation, as indicated in Figure 5, for cutting off, or substantially so, passage of light through the blind unit. Since each of the slats 49 is confined between upper and lower cross tapes 36, by turning roller 35 to proper extent the slats 49 may be moved into their positions of Figure 5, the slats acting to pull the runs 45 of the respective ladder tapes 45 toward each other to the required extent.

In order to replace one of the slats, it may be broken at the areas of the respective openings 52 thereof and thereby readily removed from the blind unit, after which the new slat may be inserted in proper position between the runs of the ladder tapes and, by being bowed or sprung slightly, have its end portions or projections inserted into the guideways, the cords or tapes 54 being then inserted edgewise through the slots 53 of the new slat and thereby introduced into the openings 52 thereof. Preferably, the slot 53 is disposed substantially as shown in Figure 6, which avoids the creation of two relatively narrow and separated elements which might readily be broken. The projection or tongue 49 resulting from the cutting of slot 53 preferably is disposed between the runs of the corresponding ladder tape so as to be protected thereby, reducing likelihood of such projection being accidentally broken off.

The ladder tapes 45 are held in contact with spring roller 35 under pressure, by the weight of the parts supported thereby, and are also in pressure contact with the lift tapes 54. The latter tapes are quite thin and even in the fully raised position of the blind do not project to an objectionable extent beyond roller 35 radially thereof. The ladder tapes 45 have effective friction contact with roller 35 at all times, either directly or indirectly through the lift tapes 54, or both. It is to be understood, therefore, that when I refer to friction contact between the ladder tapes and the roller, in the foregoing description and in the appended claims, that term includes both direct friction contact with the roller and friction contact with an intervening member, such as a lift tape, attached to the roller.

As above indicated, and as will be understood by those skilled in the art, changes in construction and arrangement of parts of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope thereof, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred forin'onl-yzof my invention has been ing at its sides guidewaysg a head-bar having end members extending into said ways, latch members on said frame normally engaging said end members for supporting said bar in raised positionand disengageable therefrom for lowering said bar,

ladder tapes and a plurality of slats supported thereby extending into said ways, a bottom bar attachedto-the lower ends of said tapes,.lift tapes attached tosaid bottom bar, andmeans carried by said head bar supportingsaid ladder tapes and cooperating therewithand with said lift tapes for tilting said slats arnzladjusting said bottom bar; vertically, said head? bar and the parts carried and supported thereby being removable as a unit from said frame;

2. In a Venetian blind structure, a frame having at its sides guideways, a head bar having end members extending into said ways, 1atch members on said frame normally engaging said end members for supporting said bar in raised position and disengageable therefrom for lowering said bar, said latch members being engageable by upward movement of said bar in said frame to its normal position, ladder tapes and a plurality of slats supported thereby extending into said Ways, a bottom bar attached to the lower ends of said tapes, lift tapes attached to said bottom bar, and means carried by said head bar supporting said ladder tapes and cooperating therewith and with said lift tapes for tilting said'slats and adjusting said bottom bar vertically, said head bar and the parts carried and supported thereby being removable as a unit from said frame.

3. In a Venetian blind structure, a frame having at its side guideways, a head bar having end members extending into said ways, latch members on said frame normally engaging said end members for supporting said bar in raised position and disengageable therefrom for lowering of said bar, and a Venetian blind carried by said bar comprising ladder tapes and a plurality of slats carried thereby with their end portions extending into said ways.

4. In a Venetian blind structure, a frame having at its sides guideways, a head bar having end members extending into said ways, latch members on said ways yieldingly urged inward thereof into position normally engaging said end members for supporting said bar in raised position and disengageable therefrom for lowering of said bar, and a Venetian blind carried by said bar comprising ladder tapes and a plurality of slats carried thereby with their end portions extending into said ways.

5. In a Venetian blind structure, a frame having at its sides guideways, a head bar having end members extending into said ways, latch members on said ways yieldingly urged inward thereof toward said end members into position normally engaging the latter for supporting said bar in 10 supporting said bar in. raised position and di-' engageable therefromfor lowering of said bar, said latchmembers being displaceable outward by said end members in the movement of said bar fromalowered position to its normal raised position, and" a Venetian blind carried by said bar comprising ladder tapes and a plurality of slats carried thereby with their end portions extending 'into said ways.

7. In a Venetian blind structure, a frame having side channel members defining guideways, a head bar having shouldered end members extending into said ways, resilient latch members on: said: channel: members extending upwardly and inwardly of said ways normally engaging beneath said end members at the shoulders thereof for-supporting said bar in raised position, said latch members being accessible through the open inner sides of said channel members and displaceable outward thereof from beneath said end membersfor lowering of said bar, and a Venetian blind carried by said bar comprising ladder tapes and a plurality of slats carried thereby with their end portions extending into said ways.

8. In a Venetian blind structure, a frame having at its sides guideways, a head bar having end members extending into said ways, latch members on said frame normally engaging said end members for supporting said bar in raised position and disengageable therefrom for lowering said bar, ladder tapes and a plurality of slats supported thereby extending into said ways, a bottom bar attached to the lower ends of said tapes, means for releasably securing said bottom bar in vertical adjustment, lift tapes attached to said' bottom bar, and means carried by said head bar supporting said ladder tapes and cooperating therewith and with said lift tapes for tilting said slats and for raising said bottom bar.

9. In a Venetian blind structure, a frame having at its sides guideways, a head bar having end portions extending into said guideways in cooperation therewith restraining said bar against transverse movement, latch members on said frame normally engaging said end members for supporting said bar in raised position and disengageable therefrom for lowering said bar, a Venetian blind carried by said head bar comprising a bottom bar, and releasable means carried by said bottom bar cooperating with said ways for securing said bottom bar in vertical adjustment.

10. In a Venetian blind structure, a frame having at its sides guideways, a head bar having end portions extending into said guideways in cooperation therewith restraining said bar against transverse movement, means normally releasably holding said bar in raised position in said frame, when released said bar being downwardly movable along said guideways and being otherwise free from said frame, a roller carried by said bar, ladder tapes looped over said roller in friction contact therewith, a plurality of slats supported by said tapes with their end portions extending into said guideways restrained thereby against transverse movement and otherwise free therefrom, a bottom bar attached to the lower ends of said tapes, means carried by said bottom bar insertible into and removable from said guideways through the open inner sides thereof and cooperating therewith for releasably securing said bottom bar in vertical adjustment, and lift tapes attached to said bottom bar and secured to said roller to be Wound thereon and unwound therefrom,

.said pocket and concealed thereby, a roller carried by said bar within said pocket, a Venetian blind supported by said roller comprising ladder tapes looped over said roller respectively formed in two separate runs, and lift cords, means detachably connecting together the upper ends of the runs of the respective tapes, and means detachably securing the upper ends of said lift cords to said roller.

AUGUST W. DONOP.

12 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 355,046 Auld Dec. 28, 1886 842,401 Goodell Jan. 29, 1907 1,001,469 sollitt Aug. 22, 1911 1,179,328 Lancaster Apr. 11, 1916 2,069,084 Brent et al 1 Jan. 26, 1937 2,209,276 Lawson 1 July 23, 1940 2,428,197 Bretz et al. 1 -1 Sept. 30, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,055 Great Britain July 6, 1897 

